Job 8:16

This other one is fresh even in sunshine,

   Its shoots spread beyond its place.

(Written 5/23. Posted 5/30)

Compare and contrast is a phrase beat into my head as a kid, like Pros and Cons. These are fundamental aspects of judgement. There have been innumerable experiments and thought put into how people think. Oddly enough, our minds know how to think all by themselves. In computers, I think this is called firmware. All these people are working on a software for us to filter the work of our brain through. My guess is that we want to change who we are. Socialists and Marxists want to override our existing firmware to keep us under control. Capitalists want to do so to make more money off us. Christ wants to do so for us to sin less.

The gap in translation on this verse is huge. The intent is to discuss another plant that is not wicked. One version continues using “The wicked” totally missing the change. Five translations use simply “he” and another simple leaves out the subject altogether.

“Fresh”(2) was also “thrives”, “is like a well-watered plant”, “grows green”(3), and “moist”. Fresh seemed to carry the intent well, with some room for inference.

“Shoots”(4) was also “branches”(2), “suckers” and “tendrils”. “Shoots” seemed more accurate and more positive. “Spread beyond” was also “spread over”(2), “shooteth forth”,  “spring up”, “creep over”, and “push out”. “Spread beyond” was also more accurate and more positive.

Overall, the wicked have death without God, and the godly grow beyond normal bounds. I definitely want to change my evil ways and have the Lord train my brain to see things through His eyes and not rely on my sinful nature. God gave us the choice so that we could choose to love Him. So I chose to.